As obesity and diabetes are becoming more and more common, the Obama administration is encouraging on millon Americas to pledge to get out and move at least 30 minutes a day.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius; President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition (PCFSN) Co-Chair Dominique Dawes; and Let’s Move! Executive Director Robin Schepper have launched the “Million PALA Challenge” at the Council’s first official meeting in Washington, D.C.
The goal: To get one million or more Americans to sign up for and achieve the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) between now and September, 2011.
“Ending obesity is critical to children’s health and to their health as adults. Nearly one in three American kids is overweight or obese, which puts them at a much greater risk of diabetes, heart disease and cancer,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. “There are more than 300 million people in America today, and we want every single one of them to live a healthy lifestyle,” she added.
The PALA program is for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. It encourages moderate to intense physical activity for 60 minutes a day, five days per week over six weeks for kids, and 30 minutes a day over the same period of time for adults.
The “Million PALA Challenge” also supports the First Lady’s Let’s Move! initiative to end childhood obesity within a generation by getting more youth and families committed to getting active and eating better.
For more information about PCFSN visit www.fitness.gov. For more information about the President’s Challenge programs, including the Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) visit www.presidentschallenge.org. For more information about Let’s Move! visit www.letsmove.gov.
(Source: Press Release)
